Dassault Aviation chief executive Charles Edelstenne has called for Europe's governments to introduce a "buy European" policy in defence procurement, which he says is the only means to "make US firms co-operate with us".
He adds: "If, to have access to European markets, US companies had to have a local industrial partner, then they would have to co-operate."
Philippe Camus, co-chief executive of EADS, says Europe "must get organised and take decisions to encourage a 'European reflex' in procurement". Camus, speaking as president of GIFAS, the French federation of aerospace companies, says Europe's governments "must organise a single defence market".
GIFAS suggests harmonising operational needs; reducing capacity gaps by giving priority to European programmes; setting up European procurement and research organisations and removing defence budgets from the European Union's stability pact to enable each nation to make a greater contribution.
It has become imperative for European governments to find a response to deal with the growing gap in defence spending between the USA and the EU. "US defence procurement spending is three times what it is in Europe, while research and development spending is eight times higher and yet our populations and gross domestic products are comparable," Camus says.
Despite the gloom, France's military aerospace sector grew an estimated 9% in 2002, against a 5% decline in the civilian market, with total revenue worth around €20 billion ($22 billion). Exports represented 72% or €14.4 billion. Total orders in the sector were down 27% on 2001 at €25.4 billion.
Source: Flight International